RNC hires Chuck DeFeo as chief digital officer

The Republican National Committee has hired Chuck DeFeo to be its chief digital officer, party leaders told POLITICO, the latest move in a sustained post-2012 push to catch up online with Democrats.

DeFeo comes to the committee from Edelman, where he is a senior vice president in charge of the Washington office’s digital issues management and public affairs group. He managed the digital effort for George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign, where voter contact tools were pioneered during an era when the GOP had the advantage.

“Chuck is a true digital pioneer who will bring a wealth of experience to the RNC,” said Chairman Reince Priebus. “The RNC is focused on a long-term data and digital strategy that will benefit the entire party and candidates at all levels for years to come. With Chuck and Andy at the helm, I’m confident we will successfully leapfrog the Democrats in our capabilities.”

DeFeo will also be the deputy chief of staff, a title that reflects the importance Priebus wants to attach to his work.

“Digital media is fundamentally about grassroots engagement and empowerment,” said DeFeo. “As we build out our digital capabilities, our focus will be on enabling our grassroots activists to help us win elections.”

At the RNC during the 2002 cycle, DeFeo made the first online advertising buy that used voter and consumer data to target online advertising. After Bush’s reelection, he was general manager for TownHall.com — the conservative online website — and eventually editor-in-chief of Townhall Magazine.

Before Edelman, he led the digital division for the conservative American Center for Law and Justice.